Liquid clarifier



Oc't. 5, 1948. J. P. NoRTH LIQUID CLARIFIER Filed July 5, 1946 Inventor J Fumes E .N ns\1'H Attorneys oct. 5; 194s. J P, NORTH 2,450,522

LIQUID CLARIF'IER 1 Filed July 5, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Madri Inventor ttomeys Oct. 5, 1948. J, P, NQRTH I 2,450,522

LIQUID CLARIFIER iled July 3, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 nil IIIIII" Inventor James F Nmv-i Patented Oct. 5, 1948 Unirse STATES rei-TENT oFFl-CE 2,450,522 LIQUID CLARIFIER James P. North, Green Bay, Wis. Application July 3, 1946, Serial No. 681,315

This invention relates to a machine for separating solid matter from liquids, and for delivering the-solid matter in a convenient way for disposal.

lIfhe primary object oi the invention is to provide an improved machine of the above kind embodyingy eicient mechanical means for clarifying liquid by effectively removing therefrom any solid matter suspended therein.

The present machine is particularly adapted to separate and recover from liquids various industrial products whichare normally carried 01T as waste in industrial sewage. Among the intended uses are the recovery of milk waste and other similar industrial wastes from liquids.

Another purpose of the invention is to separatek the non-digestible solid, commonly known as grit, from sewage, and to deliver the same in a convenient manner for disposal. The machine can also be used to partiallyvdehydrate wet sludge in preparing the same for digestion or incineration. In addition, the machine may be used to separate solid matter from water for obtaining clear water suitable for domestic and industrial uses, from lakes or streams.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above kind including a conveyor which embodies a stationary perforated screening trough suspended inside a revolving screening drum, and a conveyor screw in the trough for conveying the solids to the exterior of' the drum.

A still further object of the invention is to p-rovide certain details and features of construction which increase the efciency and general usefulness of the machine.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View, partly broken away, showing the machine in end elevation and looking toward the discharge end thereof.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 looking toward the inlet end ofthe machine.

Figure 3 is a View of the machine, partly in side elevation and partly broken away and in section, looking toward the left of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary central longitudinal section taken through the discharge end portion of the machine on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 taken 2 Claims. (Cl. ZIO-199) 2 y through the inlet end of the machine on line 6--6 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the presen-tV machine includes a rectangular open top tank 5` upon which is journalled a revolving screenlng drum 6, so that substantially the lower half of:

the drum revolves within the tank 5.

The drum 6 has a disc 'l at its outlet end provided with a central discharge neck 8 which is journalled in a bearing whose lower half is formed in the upper edge of anY end wall 9 oi the tank 5 andv whose upper half comprises a substantially semi-circular bearing cap le removably bolted at li to said end well 9. At its inletvend, the drum t includes a ring or annulus l2 connected to the disc l by tie bolts I3. Between the disc 1 and annulus l2 is the drum body I4 made of suitable foraminous straining or iiltering material. Preferably, the body 1 4 of the drum may consist of screen or perforated plate sections having adjacent edges overlapped and bolted between longitudinal bars l5 which connect the disc 'l and annulus l2, and clamping strips i6. The exact nature of the body lil of the drum will depend upon the character of the material being treated and the neness ofthe solid matter therein. The disc'lhas a marginal rim il, and the -annulus l2 has a marginal rim I8, such rims being arranged to ride on rollers I9 carried by mounts 20 secured on the linner faces of the end walls -of tank 5 at opposite sides` of the longitudinal center or axis ofy the drum 6. In this way, the drum is eiectively supported for free rotation about its axis so that friction ofthe neck 8 in its bearing is minl imized. An arch member 2l is bolted at 22 upon the end wall of tank V5 at the inlet end of the machine, and the annulus i2 has an inner ilange 23 rotatably projecting and fitting Within the arch 2i. It will be noted that the end of the drum B at the inlet of the machine is substantially entirely open, while the end of the drum at the outlet end ofthe machine is closed except for the discharge neck 8.

The end: Wall of tank 5 at the inlet end of the machine is provided with a substantially semicircular removable section 2li that is bolted in place as indicated at 25 and whose curved edge is concentric with the axis of drum 6. Intermediate its sides and near the bottom of the same, the removableend wall vsection 25k is provided with an integral pipe connection 26 for connection with the source of supply of the liquid to be claried. It will be noted that the connection 26 is located :to discharge into the drum 6 at the bottom portion thereof and at the inlet end of' the same. An outlet pipe connection 21 is provided in a side wall of tank 5, for the clarified liquid, said connection 21 being preferably located near the bottom of tank 5 and near the front end of the latter. Extending longitudinally of and within the body of drum 8 are a plurality of equally spaced inwardly projecting vanes 28. These vanes are preferably .attached to the bars |'5 and of straight form, the sarne functioning to elevate the solid matter contained in the liquid which is discharged into the lower portion of the drum, as the drum is rotated.

Suitably suspended within and axially of the drum 6, by means of brackets 29 and 29', is the trough 30 of a screw -conveyor that includes a conveyor screw 3| disposed within and extending substantially from end to end of the trough 30. The shaft of conveyor screw 3| is also journalled in the brackets 29 and 29', the bracket 28 being attached to the bearing cap l and the bracket 29 being attached to the arch member 2|. The arrangement is such that the solid matter elevated by the vanes 28 is discharged from the latter into the trough 30 as the vanes approach their upper limits of travel. As indicated at 32, the major lower portion of trough 30 may be perforated for screening purposes. The trough 30 is provided at its discharge end with an inclined discharge spout 33 projecting outwardly beyond the neck 8.

Mounted above the cylinder 6 and toward the side thereof at which the vanes 28 move upwardly, is a longitudinal water spray pipe 34 having discharge nozzles arranged to direct jets of water downwardly and inwardly to the top of trough 38. The arrangement is such that the jets of water will effectively wash thesolid material from the varies 28 and into the trough 30 when the machine is in operation. Pipe 34 may be connected to any suitable source of water under pressure, and it may be supported by brackets 35 mounted on the bearing cap 0 and removable end wall section 24.

Journalled on the end walls of the tank at one side of cylinder 6 is a longitudinal shaft 36 operatively connected at the end thereof adjacent the inlet end of the machine to the drive shaft of a reduction gearing 31, by means of a chain gearing 38. The drive shaft of gearing 31 is connected to a motor 39, and said gearing 31 and motor 39 may be mounted upon a suitable bracket 40 secured upon the adjacent end wall of tank 5. The opposite end of shaft 36 is operatively connected to the neck 8 of cylinder B by a chain gearing 4| and to the end of the shaft of conveyor screw 3| at the discharge end of the machine, by means of a chain gearing 42. The arrangement is such that the conveyor screw 3| is driven faster than the relatively slowly rotating drum 8.

In operation, the motor 39 is placed in operation so as to drive the conveyor screw 3| and drum 5, the liquid to be clarified being discharged into the drum 6 through the inlet pipe connection 26. Much of the liquid will be claried by passing through the body of drum 6 into the tank 5, solid matter being retained in the drum 6. As the drum rotates, the vanes 28 carry the solid matter upwardly and discharge the same into the trough 30 of the screw conveyor, such discharge of solid matter into trough 3|] being assisted by the jets of water from the spray pipe 34. Water drains from trough 30 through its perforations 32 as the solid matter is conveyed in trough 30 to and out of the discharge spout 33 of trough 30. The solid matter is thus effectively collected and separated from the liquid, the latter being discharged through the outlet pipe connection 21 and conveyed to a desired point of disposal or collection.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Minor changes and modifications are contemplated such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a liquid clarifier, a' drum comprising a foraminous body having longitudinal radially disposed vanes on the inside thereof, an imperforate disk closing one end of the body and having a central cylindrical discharge neck rigid therewith, an annulus at the other end of the body, said disk and said annulus being concentric with the axis of and of a diameter greater than said body, and tie bolts connecting said disk and said annulus and disposed about said body, in combination with rollers engaging the peripheries of the disk and the annulus to rotatably support the drum, a driven shaft journaled at one side of the drum, and a chain gearing between said shaft and said neck.

2 In a liquid clarifier, a drum comprising a foraminous body having longitudinal radially disposed vanes on the inside thereof, an imperforate disk closing one end of the body and having a central cylindrical discharge neck rigid therewith, an annulus at the other end of the body, said disk and said annulus being concentric with the axis of and of a diameter greater than said body, and tie bolts connecting said disk and said annulus and disposed about said body, in combination with rollers engaging the peripheries of the disk and the annulus to rotatably support the drum, a driven shaft journaled at one side of the drum, a chain gearing between said shaft and said neck, a tank carrying said rollers and within which the lower half of said tank revolves, said tank having a bearing at one end in which said neck is journaled, a stationary perforated trough supported axially of the drum and. communicating at one end with said neck, a rotatable conveyor screw in said trough having a shaft projecting outwardly through said neck, and a chain gearing between said drive shaft and the projecting end of the shaft of said conveyor screw.

JAMES P. NORTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 648,832 Bell May 1, 1900 1,217,207 North Feb. 27, 1917 1,594,999 Carter Aug. 3, 1926 1,870,485 Becraft Aug. 9, 1932 1,963,610 Becraft June 19, 1934 1,998,622 Harrow Apr. 23, 1935 2,055,869 Manning Sept. 29, 1936 

